He was born Dec. 20, 1932, in Morley, Tenn., the son of Charles L. and Vista Adkins Benge.

Mr. Benge was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

He retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he was a mechanical instrument maker.

Mr. Benge was a member of the Oak Ridge Church of God and attended the First Church of the Nazarene. He was an accomplished guitarist and an avid fisherman.

He and his wife of 58 years, Lola Weaver Benge, enjoyed spending time on the road in their RV and traveled all across the country.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Mark Benge of Knoxville; a daughter, Marie Farnstrom and husband, Devon, of Richmond, Ky.; a brother, J. N. Benge and wife, Kay, of Macon, Ga., and four grandchildren, Lauren Benge and Madison Benge, both of Knoxville, and Trevor Farnstrom and Jonah Farnstrom, both of Richmond, Ky.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Benge was preceded in death by his son, Claude Stephen Benge, on April 15, 1972.

The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at Weatherford Mortuary. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Keith Robinson officiating. The interment will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.

An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.

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